Lawyer Felix Keaton has withdrawn from representing two police officers accused
of shooting a mask vendor during protests in Nairobi Central Business District on Tuesday.
Keaton, who was defending Klinzy Masinde Barasa
and Duncan Kiprono, said he received pressure from Gen Z.
“I’ve received over 1,000 messages and calls
from Gen Z for representing a police suspect,” he said.
He added that he could no longer continue due to
the intensity of the online pressure.
“As such, I hereby recuse myself from the
conduct of the matter. Thank you,” his brief statement read.
Keaton had faced public backlash after claiming
the officer caught on camera was a mistaken identity.
“Our client didn’t discharge that rubber
bullet; this is a mistaken identity case,” Keaton had argued earlier.
The backlash came swiftly from social media
users who said he was helping shield a rogue officer.
Online users flooded his inbox with
“greetings” — a term used to describe intense messages and calls.
The two officers are accused of shooting
22-year-old Boniface Kariuki during protests in Nairobi’s CBD last week.
Kariuki was selling masks when officers
confronted him. Moments later, one fired a shot at close range.
A bullet struck his head near the ear, and he
collapsed on the sidewalk, bleeding heavily.
He was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital,
where he underwent emergency surgery and remains in recovery.
The incident sparked outrage across the
country, with calls for full accountability and police reform.
The National Police Service later identified
Barasa and Kiprono as the officers involved in the shooting.
They were interdicted, arrested, and arraigned
at the Milimani Law Courts last week.
A Nairobi magistrate ordered the two be held
at Capitol Hill Police Station for 15 days.
They will remain in custody as investigations
into the shooting continue under the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
IPOA
is also investigating and may recommend charges including attempted murder and
unlawful use of a firearm.
